Silverfish

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Silverfish \Sil"ver*fish`\, n.
     1. (Zool.)
        (a) The tarpum.
        (b) A white variety of the goldfish.
            [1913 Webster]
  


     2. one of a variety of insects of the order {Thysanura},
        especially {Lepisma saccharina}, which may infest houses,
        and eats starched clothing and sized papers. See
        {Lepisma.}
        [PJC]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Lepisma \Le*pis"ma\ (l[-e]*p[i^]z"m[.a]), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
     le`pisma peel, fr. lepi`s -i`dos, a scale.] (Zool.)
     A genus of wingless thysanurous insects having an elongated
     flattened body, covered with shining scales and terminated by
     seven unequal bristles. A common species ({Lepisma
     saccharina}) is found in houses, and often injures books and
     furniture; it feeds on starch and eats sized paper and
     starched clothes. Called also {shiner}, {silverfish}, {silver
     witch}, {silver moth}, and {furniture bug}.
     [1913 Webster +PJC]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Tarpum \Tar"pum\, n. (Zool.)
     A very large marine fish ({Megapolis Atlanticus}) of the
     Southern United States and the West Indies. It often becomes
     six or more feet in length, and has large silvery scales. The
     scales are a staple article of trade, and are used in
     fancywork. Called also {tarpon}, {sabalo}, {savanilla},
     {silverfish}, and {jewfish}.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  silverfish
       n 1: silver-gray wingless insect found in houses feeding on book
            bindings and starched clothing [syn: {Lepisma saccharina}]
       2: a silvery variety of Carassius auratus
       [also: {silverfishes} (pl)]